Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said that tomorrow 3rd December is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD).

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has joined local Illawarra residents in calling on the NSW Government to urgently address the worsening traffic congestion on the M1 Motorway by adding an extra lane in both directions between Yallah and West Wollongong.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today delivered his Second Reading Speech on the Health Services Amendment (Hospital Helipads) Bill 2024, aimed at ensuring the inclusion of a helipad in new or redeveloped hospitals with have emergency departments.

The proposal comes in the wake of the scandal-plagued delivery of the new Shellharbour Hospital which has a cycleway strategy but no helipad to be built and operational on day one. This is in spite of the existing Shellharbour Hospital having a helipad.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has given notice of a Private Members Bill that will require all new or renovated hospitals with an emergency department to have a helipad as part of the build.

Mr Ward’s moves come amidst the scandal-plagued development of the Shellharbour Hospital which will not have a helipad when the hospital opens on day one of operation.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward  has slammed the NSW Labor Government for voting against keeping David Berry Hospital in public hands. The David Berry Hospital Amendment (Prohibition of Sale) Bill 2024 aimed to protect David Berry Hospital from privatisation and keep it within the public health system.

Whist the NSW Labor Government had said they would support keeping David Berry Hospital in public hands, every Labor Party Member voted to do the opposite.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used Question Time to call on NSW Labor to reverse its proposed closures of Community Justice Centre services across NSW including those services offered on the Illawarra and South Coast. 

Established by statute in 1983, the Community Justice Centres Act was introduced to provide alternative dispute resolution services free to the community.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Health Minister Ryan Park’s weak tobacco licensing scheme Bill, calling for a share of federal tobacco excise to help NSW law enforcement crack down on rising illicit tobacco crime.

Mr Ward’s calls come following the Victorian Labor Governments moves today to introduce the toughest regime in the country including fines of up to $355,000 and 15 years in jail for individuals.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today reminded local residents and community groups across the Kiama electorate to be fire smart and prepared with summer quickly approaching.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today officially launched his annual Christmas Toy Drive with the festive season fast approaching.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Labor for taking three long years to re-open a bridge that's already built.

Labor have announced they will spend three years and $20 million refurbishing the old Nowra Bridge before reopening it to pedestrians.

"Is this a joke? Labor is taking three years to re-open a bridge that's done pretty well without them for 140 years. And they think this is a good thing?" Mr Ward said.

"I know Labor doesn't build infrastructure but three years and $20 million seems an excessive amount of time and money.

"Whilst I'm pleased the old bridge is staying, based on Labor's slow and costly timeframe, pedestrians won't be walking on the Nowra Bridge until after the next State Election in 2027!

"All the while Labor have failed to deliver on their promised Nowra Bypass, the East Nowra Sub Arterial, the Milton-Ulladulla bypass and the Dapto Access Ramps.

"If this bridge was in Sydney, it would have been reopened yesterday.

"This 'announcement' is just another example of NSW Labor's poor management of projects and budgets. We're worse off under this government, " Mr Ward concluded.

ENDS.